Know Your Rites: The Artists of Rites of Spring 2016

It’s finally spring here at Vanderbilt. The air is brimming with pollen, day parties have commenced, and everyone’s excited for Vanderbilt’s annual spring music festival. This year’s lineup is incredibly diverse: from electronic beat-maker Porter Robinson to comedic rapper Lil Dicky, there’s bound to be an artist for everyone’s tastes this year. With Rites of Spring just around the corner, it’s always a good idea to get to know the artists a bit in advance. So, check out the synopsis of this year’s lineup below.

The first of two headliners, Atlanta rapper Future has worked with the likes of Drake, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Gucci Mane, and many more. More recently, he dropped his album Evol to much praise from critics and the general public. He’s well-known for a number of mixtapes: Free Bricks in 2011, F.B.G.: The Movie in 2013, and What A Time To Be Alive with Drake in 2015. If you aren’t familiar with his work, definitely check out the track below to get a taste before Rites:

Porter Robinson, this year’s electronic headliner, stepped out on the scene in 2011 as a 19-year-old. After promptly joining Skrillex’s label OWSLA, he released his Spitfire EP. However, with his more recent album Worlds, Porter Robinson has shifted into a more experimental realm reminiscent of artists like M83, Passion Pit, and Sigur Ros. With his fresh and astral synths, Porter Robinson’s melodies are truly out of this world. If you’re unfamiliar with his work, definitely listen to his popular 1980s-esque track below:

One of this year’s lesser-known artists is undoubtedly David Burd. Better known as Lil Dicky, Burd is an interesting contrast to fan-favorite Future. Lil Dicky started off his career in advertising before promptly deciding to pursue a rap career. In his recent album Professional Rapper, Lil Dicky features artists like Fetty Wap, Snoop Dogg, T. Pain, and more. To catch a glimpse of what this dude’s all about, check out his most popular music video:

Despite her placement on this year’s promotional poster, Kat Dahlia is best known for her major hit “Gangsta” from 2013. She’ll be making an appearance once again on Vanderbilt’s campus this year with her latest album My Garden under her belt. Though she hasn’t risen to the tops of the charts with this album, don’t count her out — she’s a phenomenal female singer and rapper, and her song “I think I’m in Love” is worth a listen. Check it out here:

Last but certainly not least, Bad Suns is an alternative group from the West Coast sure to please those who dig indie music. They’ve toured with the likes of the 1975 and the Vaccines, and they’re about to stop by Vandy. After the release of their 2013 single “Cardiac Arrest,” they released their debut album Language & Perspective that has carried them on tour since then. With their mixture of dance, punk and alternative rock, Bad Suns sound a bit like The Killers, and they’re sure to be a success amongst the Rites crowd. Listen to their most popular track below: